Chapter 418: Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole

Chapter 418: Drawing the Snake Out of Its Hole

Tonight, the City Lord's estate was a tale of two extremes.

In the front hall's training grounds, the clamor was incessant, lively and bustling.

Yet, at the other end of the manor, within a certain courtyard, it was deathly quiet.

Quiet, but not deserted.

On the contrary, there were many people.

These individuals moved with purpose, coming and going. Occasionally, someone would emerge from the doors carrying a tray laden with bloodied bandages, hurrying off to another location.

At other times, someone would rush into the courtyard with a medicine case in hand.

In the surrounding darkness, countless guards lay hidden, guarding the place with ironclad security—not even a mosquito could slip through.

Not far from this spot, atop a rooftop, the young man averted his eyes and turned to the elderly swordsman beside him:

"Master, the security's tighter than we imagined."

The elderly swordsman nodded faintly but did not look toward the courtyard. Instead, his eyes were fixed on the direction of the back mountain, his eyes clouded with worry.

Finally, he sighed softly:

"Once we get our hands on it, all of this will be over."

"And then we'll go find Junior Sister!?" the young man blurted out.

"..."

The elderly swordsman frowned slightly. "Earlier, you said the Sick Prince kidnapped your shimei [junior sister] and forced you to fetch his medicine.

"Judging by his actions, he should have come to this Longmu Island as well.

"But why is there no trace of this Sick Prince, neither in the back mountain's scripture grotto nor in the training grounds at the front hall?"

"This..."

The young man's face paled. "Could... could Junior Sister have been lost at sea on the way here?"

"Bullshit!"

A sharp rap landed on his head. The young man turned to see a face flushed with rage:

"Captured by someone like the Sick Prince, and instead of telling me, you went rogue.

"Sun Yi, you've got some gall!

"If not for you, would Jing'er be missing to this day?"

"Uncle..."

Sun Yi lowered his head: "I understand my mistake."

"Let it go."

The elderly swordsman waved his hand. "With our limited numbers now, we can only investigate covertly. Managing to fully monitor the situation at the Scripture Cave and the Martial Training Ground is already commendable..."

"Most likely, if Jing'er truly arrived on this island, she might not have gotten involved in the activity at those two places."

"Instead, she would prioritize looking for us."

"But... she still doesn't know. The Sect Master issued strict orders—the matter could only be explained to you all until we were on the island."

"Now, our Shattered Star Sect disciples have regrouped, but Jing'er is the only one missing."

"However, with her cleverness and wisdom, she may not have fallen into the hands of these villains on Dragonwood Island."

"We can't afford to panic and ruin everything."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

The martial uncle gave a slight fist salute.

This man was none other than Zhang Quan, the Shattered Star Sect's Master of the Pointing Star Finger.

He had once met briefly with Su Mo on Solitary Gourd Island.

After that brief encounter on Solitary Gourd Island, he and Zhou Wenjing's incompetent senior brother had disappeared completely.

Zhou Wenjing and Cheng Suying had been scouring the island daily, looking for them—and her master, Li Mosheng.

Yet, unexpectedly, they had not been captured by the people of Dragonwood Island.

Nor had they been guests in the City Lord's residence.

Instead, they had another agenda.

Most of the group standing behind them now were from the Shattered Star Sect.

Only a few were encountered on the island, and now they had joined forces for their goal.

Their eyes were locked onto the City Lord's residence.

Suddenly, someone shouted:

"Emergency! The City Lord is critically ill—get the Celestial Stele now!!"

Upon hearing this, Li Mosheng's eyes lit up, and he shared a knowing look with Zhang Quan, both remaining silent.

Sun Yi couldn't help but ask, "Master, Uncle, they're fetching the Celestial Stele—shouldn't we follow?"

"The matter of the Celestial Stele is no small matter. How can you make such a scene about it so carelessly?"

Zhang Quan glared at Sun Yi.

"I told you to think carefully when facing situations. Even if you thought with your feet, you should have figured it out by now."

"Ah..."

Sun Yi had an epiphany. "They're trying to set a trap?"

"Then is the Island Master’s dire state real or fake?"

"Good, you're catching on."

Zhang Quan shook his head, though his brows remained tightly furrowed:

"The Island Master’s dire state is probably real... He didn’t have much time left to begin with."

"But... Hmm? Where did they come from?"

He suddenly raised a hand, spotting a group of people dressed in black robes and hats, carrying a lavishly decorated chest, appearing out of nowhere and already at the entrance of the Island Master's courtyard.

"Go get the Celestial Stele... Wait, never mind—it’s already here."

Li Mosheng let out a quiet breath: "Everyone, it's time for us to..."

Before he could finish, his expression abruptly changed:

"And who is that?"

Hearing this, the group looked up and saw that atop the lavish chest, a little old man with pitch-black hair had somehow appeared.

This man sat with his legs splayed, casually holding a chicken leg in one hand, chomping on it while lightly tapping the chest with the other, like he was dying to know what was inside.

Then he raised his head, glancing around with a grin:

"So, your Island Master lives here, huh?"

Not only were Li Mosheng and the others stunned, totally bewildered, but even the guards before the Island Master's courtyard were momentarily dumbfounded before flying into a rage:

"Who are you?"

"Grab him!!"

At that, the Dragonwood Island disciples immediately attacked from all sides, going for the man.

With a single palm strike on the chest, a huge force slammed down, causing the four black-robed bearers to lose their grip—the chest slammed into the ground.

The elderly man, however, backflipped away, evading the encircling assault.

As the Dragonwood Island disciples hesitated, they swiftly pulled out their moves, striking toward the airborne figure.

The elderly man merely chuckled. Midair, he spun suddenly, flipping upside down to counter the incoming attacks. With easy swipes, he exchanged blows with each assailant.

The surrounding Dragonwood Island disciples were instantly knocked flying from the impact.

Bouncing off the force, the elderly man soared onto the courtyard wall, scanning his surroundings as the whoosh of rushing air filled the air.

As the saying goes, a single stone stirs a thousand ripples. Though this was no mere stone, the waves it created were far greater.

Perched on the wall, the elderly man looked around, tsking in irritation:

"Where did all these people come from? What, you all teaming up on an old man just 'cause you’re young and tough?"

"All I did was ask if your city lord is in this courtyard?

"Why the rough handling?"

Just as he spoke, a bloodcurdling scream tore through the crowd.

The one screaming was a disciple of Longmu Island, clutching his head and face as blood and pus seeped between his fingers. In an instant, a sickening stench filled the air.

Someone nearby immediately reached out to support him:

"You—what’s—?!"

Before the words were finished, they noticed that the hand touching the man had already swollen into a large blister, filled with shiny, pus-filled fluid.

Before they could react, these blisters had already covered the entire arm and quickly spread across the body.

Agony ripped through him, and when the man opened his mouth to scream, blood sprayed out instead of a scream.

It splattered all over the person standing in front of him.

"Back off! Don’t touch them!!"

A furious shout immediately rang out from the crowd:

"That old man’s poison is deadly—one touch, and you’re done for."

"Well, look who finally gets it."

The old man’s face lit up with glee. "But I wonder, where is this person?"

"Behind you."

The voice came from behind the elderly man, making him jerk around. He saw a middle-aged man standing inches from his back.

His robes were loose, with something squirming underneath.

The elderly man sniffed and frowned:

"What’s with you freaks on this island, all liking to keep snakes?

"Big ones, small ones, venomous, non-venomous, all kinds...

"Is this Longmu Island?

"Should’ve called it Snake Island.

"Speaking of which... I’ve been talking for so long. How are you still breathing?"

The middle-aged man grinned:

"Simple—your poison’s useless."

"Hmm?"

The old man’s eyes narrowed, but the man before him had already shot forward, hand snapping toward him.

The elderly man’s martial arts were no slouch either. He took a step back, barely dodging the strike—but the moment his foot landed, a black streak lashed out from the man’s sleeve.

Fast as an arrow, its speed was too fast to see.

However, since the old man had already caught the man's scent, he naturally remained vigilant.

With a swift tilt of his head, he extended two fingers just in time, clamping down on something.

What he caught between his fingers was clearly a venomous snake.

With a forceful yank, a muffled grunt followed, and half the snake now lay in his palm.

Upon closer inspection, his face fell.

The severed half was not torn apart by his own strength.

Judging from the clean cut, the snake had been sliced by a sharp blade.

Moreover, the wound bore jagged notches.

Black ooze seeped from the injury.

"Black..."

The old man's expression froze as he whirled around, only to find several shadows closing in on him.

Each snake bared its fangs, venom glinting coldly.

"Hell's bells!"

The old man exclaimed, tossing something from his sleeve, causing the snakes to recoil in retreat.

Yet, faster than the snakes scattered, the old man himself took off running.

As he ran, he muttered under his breath:

"An ill-fated year—this one must clash with snakes.

"Snakes at the doorstep is truly an ill omen."

But before he could finish, a figure from Dragonwood Island lunged at him from the side, throwing a punch without warning.

The old man wanted no part of this fight, yet the attacker's fists came swift and fierce, his technique sealing off all escape routes.

Left with no choice, the old man countered.

Head-on fights weren’t his style, and after just two exchanges, he resorted to slipping him poison.

Yet, his opponent didn't even flinch at the lethal toxin.

Fists came down in a frenzy, footsteps weaving to block every angle.

The old man's face darkened. With a snarl, he lashed out with both palms, clashing fiercely with the incoming fists.

As their hands met, their qi clashed.

Suddenly, his opponent bared his teeth in a grin, and with a tearing sound, a third arm tore through his back.

Crackling with wind and thunder, the extra hand struck straight for the old man's head.

"Great Brahma's Palm!?"

For some inexplicable reason, the name popped into the old man’s head.

But he knew a direct hit from this palm strike would kill him instantly.

But now, pinned with both hands restrained and his energy already committed, retreating was not an option. Otherwise, the opponent's surging inner force would still mean certain death.

Just as he was weighing his options, a faintly familiar whistle of something slicing through air suddenly rang out.

It shot straight toward the opponent's head.

The old man's pulse quickened, thinking he might cheat death—only to realize that the Great Brahma Prajna Palm showed no sign of withdrawing. Instead, a third hand burst forth from the opponent's chest.

However, this hand was distinctly different from the others.

The other hands were all thick-boned and muscular.

But this one was smooth as jade and slender, its fingers tapered like young bamboo. With a flick of its fingertips, it reached out and snatched something from midair.

"Leaf-Plucking Hand?"

The name flashed through the elderly man's mind.

In that very instant, the hand had already intercepted the projectile mid-air.

"It's over..."

The elderly man sighed inwardly—only to suddenly realize the killing force of the Great Brahma Prajna Palm aimed at him had abruptly dissipated.

Meanwhile, the two hands gripping him instinctively tightened. Seizing the moment, the elderly man released a surge of energy.

Looking up, he saw that the hand holding the stone had, at some point, slammed into the attacker's face—dragging the entire person along.

Propelled by the immense force of the flying stone, the opponent was sent flying.

The impact came like thunder, as the body slammed into a wall at the alley's entrance, blasting a man-sized hole through it.

Yet even then, the momentum kept carrying him.

It sent the opponent tumbling across the ground several times before he finally managed to brace with both palms, pushing the body back upright—but the momentum did not stop, sending him skidding uncontrollably backward.

Only after smashing violently into another wall behind did the movement finally cease.

The moment the mouth opened, a mouthful of blood sprayed out.

The impact cratered the wall half a meter deep.

Dark fluid seeped from every orifice, the eyes wide open but completely lifeless.

Outside the Island Master's courtyard, everything went dead silent.

From a nearby rooftop, Li Mosheng and the others stood frozen in shock, staring at the elderly man.

The surrounding disciples of Dragonwood Island also eyed him with wary disbelief.

The elderly man, his expression pure shock, looked around and instinctively shook his head.

"It wasn't me..."

But no one was buying it.

Though some heard the whoosh of cutting wind, they couldn't care less to argue with him further, merely waving a hand:

"Take him down!!"

In that brief moment, the Dragonwood Island disciples had already closed the circle again.

The elderly man, for a time, was torn between fury and relief.

Relieved that he had cheated death, yet angry that he seemed to have been left holding the bag.

Earlier, in that dark prison cell, he had heard this same sound of wind splitting the air—right before the giant serpent crashed to the ground, its head shattered.

Now, hearing it again, a martial arts master capable of killing him effortlessly had dropped dead silently.

Who the hell was this?

With such formidable martial arts, why not just quit skulking and face me?

Now, even if he wanted to explain, no one would listen—who would listen?

All he could do was fend off these damn Dragonwood zealots while working an exit strategy.

Meanwhile, Li Mosheng was done waiting. With a wave of his hand, he commanded:

"After securing the Celestial Stele, proceed as planned!"

His followers grunted acknowledgment and immediately sprang forward.

The Dragonwood Island disciples, previously focused on the elderly man, were blindsided by this ambush from behind.

Fortunately, there were still guards stationed by the gilded crate, attempting to carry it into the courtyard.

But just as they passed through the gate, men dropped from the rooftops.

With a flick of fingers, several Dragonwood Island disciples were knocked sprawling.

Li Mosheng reached out, pressing a hand onto the crate, then kicked it straight out the door.

Outside, Zhang Quan had been waiting. Catching the crate with both hands, he pivoted and bolted without hesitation.

Seeing Zhang Quan succeed, the others broke off too, scattering in all directions.

At this point, even the Dragonwood Island disciples who had been dogpiling the elderly man could no longer afford to pursue him, instead chasing after the fleeing group.

Seizing the opening, the elderly man loosed twin clouds of venom dust before melting into the darkness.

Skilled at escaping in chaotic situations, he disappeared in an instant.

Li Mosheng and his men dispersed as well, making Dragonwood’s men divide their chase.

The courtyard suddenly went dead quiet.

Then, a figure emerged from the shadows.

Gazing in the direction the elderly man had fled, his brow knotted:

"Seems he truly has lost his memory..."

"Only this head of white hair, how did it suddenly turn black?"

"Could the彼岸花 (Bǐ'àn Huā), or flower of the other shore, also hold the power to restore youth?"

"Is memory loss a side effect?"

He was none other than Su Mo.

A thought crossed his mind as he turned his gaze toward the Island Master's compound.

Shaking his head slightly:

"They must have been deceived..."

"Zhang Quan... Shattered Star Sect..."

Su Mo suddenly recalled something.

When he first arrived on the island, Duan Wenwu had said something quite strange to Zhou Wenjing.

"I only hope your Shattered Star Sect achieves what it desires this time."

"Oh, now I understand..."

A faint smile touched the corners of Su Mo's lips. Yet after glancing again at the courtyard of Longmu Island's master, he turned and left without another word.

The courtyard was now completely empty.

All of this had merely been a scheme by Longmu Island's master to draw them out.

However, the one who had been lured wasn't Ye Youchen, who had sneaked into the Scripture Cave.

Instead, it was the Shattered Star Sect—those who had been plotting for who knows how long.

"Shattered Star Sect, Shattered Star Bay, the Chaotic Stone Sea... and Longmu Island!"

"Just what is it that you know?"

...

...

Beside a grove of trees, a figure dropped down from above.

His feet lightly touched the blades of grass before he soared upward once more.

Finally, he landed atop a tree.

The tree swayed gently in the wind, and the figure moved subtly with its motion.

Surveying the surroundings, he softly spoke:

"Not coming out yet?"

"I'm proud of my ability to conceal my presence—it should be at least equal to that of you so-called martial arts masters."

"Still, I didn't expect you to sense me."

A voice called up from below.

With a rustling sound from beneath, a young man dressed in Longmu Island attire, but carrying a blade strapped to his back, emerged:

"How did you find me?"

Li Mosheng lightly shook his head: "This old man here never sensed you. I was simply making a guess."

"..."